Ingrid Boot paints worlds of surreal beauty and elegance, so refined they appear effortless, yet each is the product of discipline and devotion.

After studying Fine Art at Westminster University, London, and completing an Illustration degree at De Montfort University, Ingrid moved to New Zealand in 2000. Her work is now held in private collections around the world, though it is here in Aotearoa that she has found the perfect environment to create.

Living In New Zealand, Ingrid has found a sanctuary where the relentless noise of the world falls away. She has no agenda beyond creating beauty. “I don’t like the noise, it saddens me. Divisive politics has become so pervasive, so corroding, and it stifles creativity. Here, I can live in my bubble of art, in one of the most beautiful places in the world.”

Like Ingrid’s paintings, the act of painting offers escapism. “I often look at the turmoil happening every day in the world with politics, wars and feel weighed down by the actions reported wondering how people can treat each other so badly.” My paintings take my mind away from this. Being in New Zealand provides a beautiful distraction and calming environment.

At the heart of Ingrid’s work are strong women in many guises, their attitude, their confidence, their presence. Inspired by the elegance of Vintage Vogue, she portrays women who are never passive but radiate resilience, poise, and individuality, captured with meticulous attention to detail.

Each painting unfolds through many stages of creation and refinement. Ideas begin with research and sketching, followed by the painstaking study of every detail, every button, every stitch, every prop must be exact. Before painting, Ingrid stages photoshoots with models, building photographic reference that lend dimension and depth, transforming vision into art.

Her confidence in weaving these disciplines together stems from her classical training, but her evolution as an artist has been equally vital. Today, she creates several works each year for exhibition and private commission, each one a testament to her ability to fuse discipline, history, and imagination into art of enduring beauty.